How do you say sorry in Spanish?

Sorry in Spanish is lo siento for genuine regret or condolence, perdón for light pardon-me apologies, and disculpa (informal) or disculpe (formal) for excuse me. Lo lamento is more formal regret; perdóname is forgive me, heavier than lo siento.

What's the difference between lo siento and perdón?

Lo siento implies real regret: you did something, and it had consequences. Perdón is light, almost reflexive: small bumps, interruptions, minor mistakes. For serious harm or condolences, lo siento mucho is the right register.

How do you pronounce lo siento?

Lo siento is loh see-EHN-toh. Three syllables, stress on EHN. The ie is one short syllable (ee-EH), not two. The t is unaspirated, no English puff of air.

How do I remember which apology to use?

Hear native speakers in real moments of bumping into people, interrupting conversations, owning up to mistakes, and giving condolences. Parrot's videos let you feel the register difference between lo siento, perdón, and disculpa instead of memorizing rules.

Spanish vocabulary · Beginner

Sorry in Spanish: Lo Siento, Perdón, and Disculpa Without Mixing Them Up

Written by Sofia Ramirez, Lead Spanish Curriculum Editor · Reviewed May 2026

Lo siento · phrase · loh see-EHN-toh

Sorry in Spanish is lo siento for genuine regret or condolence, perdón for a light pardon-me apology, and disculpa (or formal disculpe) for excuse me. Lo lamento is a slightly more formal version of regret. Perdóname is forgive me, heavier than lo siento.

Lo siento is loh see-EHN-toh, three short syllables, stress on EHN. Perdón is pehr-DOHN, stress on DOHN. Disculpa is dees-KOOL-pah; disculpe is dees-KOOL-peh.

Lo siento, no fue mi intención.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to.

Sorry in Spanish: Quick Reference

Below are the most common Spanish words for sorry, with pronunciation and regional usage notes.

Spanish	English	Pronunciation	Region / Register
lo siento	sorry	loh see-EHN-toh	Default, widely understood
perdón	sorry		light apology / pardon me
disculpa / disculpe	sorry		excuse me (informal / formal)
perdóname	sorry		forgive me (deeper)
lo lamento	sorry		more formal regret

How Native Speakers Use Lo siento

Real example sentences across three contexts you'll actually run into.

Genuine regret or apology

Lo siento mucho, no quise lastimarte.

I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you.

Lo siento for real apologies. Pair with mucho or de verdad to add weight.

Light pardon-me apology

Perdón, no te vi.

Sorry, I didn't see you.

Perdón is short and casual. Use it after small bumps, interruptions, or minor mistakes.

Getting someone's attention

Disculpe, ¿sabe dónde queda la estación?

Excuse me, do you know where the station is?

Disculpe (formal) or disculpa (informal) for getting attention or asking for help. Not really an apology, more an opener.

Avoid These Mistakes When Using Lo siento

Saying lo siento for excuse me

Incorrect: Lo siento, ¿qué hora es?

Correct: Disculpa, ¿qué hora es?

Lo siento implies you did something wrong. Asking for the time isn't an apology context. Use disculpa or perdón to flag attention.

Saying perdón after a real mistake

Incorrect: Perdón por romper tu teléfono.

Correct: Lo siento mucho por romper tu teléfono.

Perdón is too light for a real harm. For genuine apologies (broken phone, hurt feelings, missed event), reach for lo siento mucho or perdóname.

Why Sorry Matters in Spanish-Speaking Cultures

Spanish apologies often add explanation

Where English speakers say I'm sorry and stop, Spanish apologies often layer in a why or a soft explanation: lo siento, no fue mi intención; perdón, no te vi. The pattern reads as more sincere in Spanish; standalone apologies can feel curt.

Lock in Sorry Vocabulary with the Parrot Method

Why word lists alone don't stick

Memorizing a translation feels productive, but most learners forget 70% of what they studied within 48 hours. Vocabulary needs spaced repetition AND real-world exposure to transfer to long-term memory.

See Lo siento used by native speakers

Parrot's short-form videos feature native speakers using lo siento in real situations. Context-based exposure beats flashcards, you hear Lo siento, no fue mi intención. while watching someone live the moment, connecting meaning, sound, and rhythm at once.

Save, review, repeat, stay consistent

Tap any word to save it. Parrot's spaced-repetition system surfaces it right before you'd forget, no manual flashcard creation. The watch, parrot back, save, review cycle turns recognition into fluency at 2.7x the speed of traditional study.

Common Questions About Sorry in Spanish

How do you say sorry in Spanish?: Sorry in Spanish is lo siento for genuine regret or condolence, perdón for light pardon-me apologies, and disculpa (informal) or disculpe (formal) for excuse me. Lo lamento is more formal regret; perdóname is forgive me, heavier than lo siento.
What's the difference between lo siento and perdón?: Lo siento implies real regret: you did something, and it had consequences. Perdón is light, almost reflexive: small bumps, interruptions, minor mistakes. For serious harm or condolences, lo siento mucho is the right register.
How do you pronounce lo siento?: Lo siento is loh see-EHN-toh. Three syllables, stress on EHN. The ie is one short syllable (ee-EH), not two. The t is unaspirated, no English puff of air.
How do I remember which apology to use?: Hear native speakers in real moments of bumping into people, interrupting conversations, owning up to mistakes, and giving condolences. Parrot's videos let you feel the register difference between lo siento, perdón, and disculpa instead of memorizing rules.